Derek Cecil, a Texas native, was drawn to performing from an early age, acting in plays from the second grade through high school. After graduating, he moved to Houston where he performed with the Alley, The Houston Shakespeare Festival, Urban Theater and attended the University of Houston. He decided to further his training at the American Conservatory Theater's Advanced Training Program in San Francisco, stayed in the Bay Area for a year afterwords doing theater, and local TV and film. He moved to New York City in 1998 where he was a founding member of the Rude Mechanicals Theater Company (NY), acting and directing as a member of the company for several years. Cecil gained national exposure when he starred opposite Mark Ruffalo in UPN's TV series "The Beat" created by the "Homicide: Life on the Street", Emmy winning team, Barry Levinson and Tom Fontana. He followed with a recurring role on the Fox series "Pasadena" and then the lead role, Jim Prufrock on ABC's experimental series "Push, Nevada". His theater highlights include "Les Liaisons Dangereuses" on Broadway with Laura Linney, and playing Chance Wayne in Tennessee Williams "Sweet Bird Of Youth" at the Williamstown Theater Festival. While living in NY Derek has done episodes of Zero Hour, Law & Order, Law & Order:SVU, Law & Order: CI, Gossip Girl, Unforgettable, The Good Wife, Fringe, and The $treet as well as several independent films.